James l



(No Model.)

J. L. JUDGE.

AIR VALVE.

. Patented June 21, 1892.

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Unrrnn dramas PATENT rrrce.

JAMES L. JUDGE, OF MILIVAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM K. DOIVNEY, OF SAME PLACE.

AIR-VALVE.

fiPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 477,597, dated J un'e 21, 1892. Application filed April 27, 1891. Serial No. 390,559. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: the float rests normally in the ordinary tem- Be it known that I, JAMES L. JUDGE, of perature on the spring M the top of the valve Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and will be a little way from its seat I, so as to State of \Visconsin, have invented a new and permit the escape of air coming from the ra- 5 useful Improvement in Air-Valves, of which diator through the duct D into the chamber the following is a description, reference being E through the orifice K. The float L is conhad totheaccompanyingdrawings, which are structed of thin sheet metal, and upon the a part ot'this specification. admission of steam into the chamber E the My invention relates to improvements in metal of the float will quickly expand and lo the air-valve for which Letters Patent No. force the needle-valve N against its seat I,

394,860 were issued to me December 18, 1888. closing the orifice K and preventing the es- In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation cape of steam. The spring M yields under of the complete air-valve. Fig. 2 is a longithe continued expansion of the Walls of the tudinal central section of the complete valve. float L after the needle-valve N has been 6;

[5 Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3 3 of raised to its seat by the slight expansion of Fig. 2. the walls of the float, and thus provides for My improved deviceis adapted for use with the unusual or extraordinary expansion of the radiators that are used in heating buildthe walls of the float. On turningoif the ings, in connection with-a system of pipes steam in the radiator, if water of condensa- 20 for steam, and serves to permit the escape of tion accumulates and runs into the chamber air therefrom, but prevents the escape of E the float will be raised by its buoyancy in steam or water therethrough. the water, carrying the needle-valve N to its The case A is a small hollow cylinder proseat 'I and closing the orifice K against the vidcd with a bottom B, to which it is secured escape of water therethrough.

25 conveniently by turning into an annular To provide as large a surface as possible in flange by screw-thread. The bottom B is prothe float for expansion, the side walls of the videdwithascrew-threaded nipple C,through float are preferably corrugated by annular which there is a duct D, leading into the enlargements alternating with annular conchamber E of the valve. A cover F is setracted parts, as shown at 0. thus providing o cured removably to the cylinder by turning for the closing of the orifice K quickly under it thereon by a screw-thread, as shown in Fig. the action of a small amount of steam ad- 2. The cover F is provided with a central mitted to the chamber E, causing the walls upwardly-extending neck G, having therein ot' the float L to expand quickly and greatly a passage H, leading from the chamber E, a in excess of the case A. The needlevalveN 8 35 tapering valve-seat I, and a small dischargecan be adjusted at a proper distance from the orifice K therefrom. It will also be noticed valve-seat I by removing the cover F from that the under side of the cover F is convex the case A and turning the needle by its in form, as indicated at f. This convexity screw-thread in the top of the float. This extends up to the central neck G, so that the may be required under any changein the con- 40 two surfaces upon each side of said neck dition of the spring M.

gradually converge until they respectively Animportant advantage gained by provid meet the sides bordering passage II. A holing the removable stop or cover with a conlow Water-tight float L in the case A rests vex under side is that an effective guideway normallyon a spring M and is provided with is formed for the needle-valve, the converg- 5 a needle-valve N, supported and adjustable ing of the metal toward the passage II insurby a screw-thread in the top of the float. The ing the entrance of the valve and its accuneedle-valve N is tapered at its upper exrate guidance to its seat. tremity, so as when raised thereto to fit the That I claim as new, and desire to secure valve-seat I and close it against the passage by Letters Patent, is mo 50 of steam or water. The needle-valve N is An air-valve comprising an upright cylinadjusted in the top of the float, so that when der-case forming a valve-chamber, a duct leading into the bottom of the case from a steam-radiator, a coverdetachably secured to the top of the case, which cover is provided with a central upwardly-extending neck having a passage leading from the air-chamber t0 the valve-seat near its upper extremity, and a discharging-orifice above the valveseat, a hollow water-tight float in and nearly filling the chamber of the case, which float has corrugated sheet-metal sides, whereby it is adapted to expand and contract longitudinallyquickly under change of temperature, a needle-valve secured adjustably in the cover of the float and projecting therefrom into and guided by the neck movably to normally near the valve-seat, and an independent spring interposed between the bottom of the float and the bottom of the case, on Which spring the float rests yieldingly, constructed and arranged substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES L. JUDGE. Witnesses:

C. T. BENEDICT, ANNA V. FAUST. 

